Santos Farm project returns with big plans

Milford. The project will include a mini medical facility, a restaurant, a hotel, a gas station, and a convenience store.

| 31 Jan 2025 | 08:10

After eight years of planning, the Milford Township Planning Commission met with DEPG Management Services to discuss the future of the property that borders the township building property that was once Santos Farm. DEPG Management is the same company behind the St. Luke’s Building on Route 209 in Monroe County and they submitted a conditional use plan that was designed to create a Milford Town Center. The project will include a mini medical facility, a restaurant, a hotel, a gas station, and a convenience store. The plans were discussed at the Jan. 28 Milford Township Planning Commission meeting.

This is the first step in building a schematic plan that will include mapping, traffic, building footprints, zoning, and more on the nearly three acres that is being developed. A traffic engineer will be needed to determine whether the area requires a stop light and the Milford Water Authority will need to approve the plans before the development can be connected.

A more detailed plan will come after the land development stage and a number of things will need to be added to satisfy the township. There was some discussion among Planning Commission members about moving the proposed parking lots behind the buildings and there was a firm stance on making sure there won’t be any “tax increment financing.”

However, a lot of design is still needed. There are no residential properties in this plan, only commercial ones. The township said it was not looking for a lot of growth with this development, but they expect the taxes paid by these businesses to provide the township with revenue, while providing locals with new job opportunities. PennDOT will also need more for scoping for a cohesive plan.

All of this is contingent on land development approval, which will come after the zoning approval. DEPG Management will meet with Andrew Bellwoar to further evaluate the plan.

Other business

The Milford Township Comprehensive Plan has been updated with corrections, but was tabled until the next meeting. The conditional use application form was also looked at by the Planning Commission. It will now go back to the supervisors for a vote.

An amendment to Section 407 of the Zoning Ordinance will require comments from the Water Authority before it can be sent to the county, while the final zoning map was also approved at this week’s meeting. It will go to the supervisors next for the final execution. The Zoning warehouse standards ordnance is still under review and will be kept on the agenda for the next meeting, while the mixed-use zoning amendment was tabled.

There will be no public hearing for the Eastern Pike County Regional Act 537 Plan, as the DEP has said that there is no requirement for it. Supervisors may need to send a letter to the engineers about what will be done with the public comments, but further discussion is expected.